Heritage is more than just who your parents or your grandparents are. Heritage is a celebration. Heritage is a legacy. And heritage is a bridge between past and present. Heritage also is something unique and wonderful, and it deserves to be celebrated in all of its forms.
September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage month, and I discovered there was no better way to celebrate than the third annual Hispanic Heritage Festival planned by the Naperville Sister Cities Commission.
From the entertainment to the venue to the food, the Hispanic Heritage Festival offered something unique and exciting on every corner. Central Park on September 16 was chock full of vendors selling all types of goods. Fragrant tacos, delicate wood carvings, gorgeous accessories, and so much more. I personally had a chance to sample mangonada, an icy cold mango sorbet intertwined with slightly spicy chamoy. The event had an incredible spread of cuisine and wares, which was already an impressive sight, but I haven’t even talked about the music yet.
As a volunteer at the event, I was unfortunately unable to sit in the front row of benches and marvel at the incredible performances taking place on the stage. But the lively music was broadcasted all throughout the park, and the thunderous applause that followed each and every number more than spoke for the caliber of the performances.
Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration of tradition, culture, and people. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for next year’s Hispanic Heritage Festival.
